Carton and easel for sheets



Feb. 20, 1951 J. D. SCHNEIDER CARTON AND EASEL FOR SHEETS Filed June 15,1948 Patented Feb. 20, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CARTON AND EASELFOR SHEETS John Dickinson Schneider, Deerfield, Ill. Application Jim.15, 1948, Serial No. 33,037

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a carton and easel for sheets and moreparticularly to apparatus adapted to be assembled as a transportingcarton or as a display easel for sheets having displays thereon.

One feature of this invention is that it provides an improvedtransporting carton and display easel for sheets having displaysthereon; another feature of this invention that it provides a backingmember having a pair of oppositely disposed side flaps hingedly mountedalong opposite side edges thereof, said flaps being adapted to form asupport to maintain said backing member upright at an angle to thevertical; another feature of this invention is that the side flaps areeach provided with a lower bendable portion, preferably triangular inform, which may be bent to form a base portion, thereby supporting saidbacking member in an upright position at an angle from the vertical; anadditional feature of this invention is that it provides a bottom flaphingedly mounted on said backing member and adapted to be secured to thebendable portion of each of said side flaps to provide a very stableeasel; a further feature of this invention is that the display sheetsare mounted on a hanger flap hingedly secured to the backing member andare completely enclosed within the carton formed by the apparatus fortransportation, the hanger flaps and sheets being adapted to be swungthrough an angle of approximately 180 to present the display on saidsheets from the opposite side of said backing member when the apparatusis assembled as an easel; still another feature of this invention isthat two oppositely disposed flaps (the side flaps as illustrated) havea combined width at least equal to the width of the backing member, saidflaps preferably being each of the order of onehalf the width of saidbacking member so that when said flaps are swung to overlie said backingmember the flaps completely cover a side of said member; yet a furtherfeature of this invention is that the hinged connection between the sideflaps and the backing member is designed so that said flaps form asupport for the backing member when the flaps are swung less than 90from said backing member, thereby providing an easel wherein the sideflaps are not visible from the front; and still an additional feature ofthis invention is that the display sheet and hanger flap may be fastenedto the backing member to insure that the sheets retain a desirabledisplay position.

- Other features and advantages of this invention will be apparent fromthe following specification and from the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of apparatus constructed in accordance withthe present invention, said apparatus being assembled as a carton;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the apparatus of Fig. 1assembled as an easel;

Fig. 3 is a reduced perspective view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 in theprocess of being disassembled as a carton and assembled as an easel;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the upper portion of theapparatus assembled as an easel;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the apparatus in process of assembly asan easel looking from the back thereof;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the back of the apparatusshowing the connection between the bottom flap and the bendable portionof the side flaps;

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of the apparatus assembled as an easellooking from the back thereof;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section along the line 8-8 ofFig. 2; and

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section along the line 9--9of Fig. 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the apparatus comprises abacking member [0 which preferably is formed of corrugated fiber board.A pair of oppositely disposed side flaps llv and I2 are hingedly mountedalong opposite side edges of the backing member to and extend alongsubstantially the entire length of said edges as shown in Figs. 1, 2and. 3. These flaps have a combined width at'least equal to the width ofthe backing member and preferably each side flap has a width of theorder of onehalf the width of the backing member so that the edges ofthe flaps are substantially in abutment and said flaps completely covera side of the backing member when the flaps are swung to overlie thebacking member as shown in Fig. 1. The hinge mounting may be of the typewhich is conventional in forming boxes and cartons of corrugated fiberboard, here being shown as comprising a double fold 13a and l3b, thesefolds being spaced to provide a space between backing boards and theside flaps when the side flaps are swung to overlie the board. The widthof the spacing between the folds I30. and [3b will, of course, determinethe depth of the carton, and in a carton intended to contain 10 or adozen display sheets a spacing of about of an inch or an inch betweenthe folds He and. I3!) will suffice. While 3 shown as being integral,obviously, if desired the backing members and the flaps may be made ofseparate pieces and hinged together with tape or similar fasteningmeans.

Each flap has a lower portion Ha and [2a, respectively, which isbendable, this portion preferably being defined by score lines as shownat Nb and I22) in Fig. 1, the portions lid and I2a each preferably beingin the form of a triangle having its relatively short base'extendi'ngfrom the lower'corner of the'respectiveside flap along" the outer edgeof said flap opposite said hinge. mounting, said triangle having itsapex at the lower corner of the respective side-fiap adjacent the pointof connection of the side flap with the backing member ID.

'A bottom flap it is hingedly: mountedelong, the bottom edge of saidbacking member and extends along substantially the entire lengthof saidbottom edge as shown best in Fig. 6. The bottom flap Mi is hingedsimilarly to the: side flaps II and -I 2 and isadaptedto cover the lowerportion of the side of the backing member when the bottom fiap is swungto overlie said backing. member.

A hanger nap l",2preferab1y similar insize and shape to thebottom fiapsM',.is:=hinged1y-.: mounted "along the t'op edge ofthe backing member fi-and extends along substantially the entire: length of said top edge assho'wn' best in-zF ig 3:- The hanger flap covers the upperp'ortion ofthe side :of jth'ebacking member when in a first PlOSi-' tion where saidflap is swung to overlie said back ing. member; Obviously if desired:the hanger flap and bottoinfiapcould be formed'with acom bined width atleast equal to the width of "the backingmem-ber and the'side flaps couldeachibe shortened so-they are not in-abutment when said side flaps areswung. to overlie-the. backing member.

A plurality of display sheets Iii: are-mounted on the hangerflap I 5'adjacentthe top edgeyofthe backing member it by means of pins orrrivets- I1 and IS. Whenthe appa-ratusvis assembled as a carton the:display; sheets l6: will liebetween the hanger flap -l 5 and the"bottom-flap l l'on the backside of said sheets and-the: backing member:

ill on the front or display" side of'said sheets-as will beapparentfrom'a consideration of Figures 1; 2'and--3; and said hangerflap*iii and sheets I5 are-adapted to be'swungfrom this' first position"through anangle of approximately-180degrees; toa secondpositionillustrated irrFigs; 2 andT'l: wherein tlie'display'on saidsh'eets' is'presented from the side of the backing member I'Bl opposite:the" side of .said-memberfrom',which the side flaps ll and i2 extend,said sheetsbeing sup' ported by said hanger fiap" l5iand ibacking mein'ber Ii! when'in'said secondposition;

In Fig. l'the apparatusisillustrated assembled" asacarton'with thedisplay sheets" leinside the' c'a'rt'onl If d'esiredthe cartorimaybe'se'aled by means of a tape 2 0 bridging the abutting edges of": theside fiaps H and i2: As 'is conventional'in' assemblinga carton theha'nger flap 115i andthe bottt'om fiap l4, which in theembodimentiillustlrated arenot of sufli'cientlength to abut each other,are folded inside the side flaps l'l and 12-, the'hinge mountingof "saidhanger and bottom flaps providingthe end'softhe carton. v

In Fig. 2 the apparatus has' been disassembled asa carton and assembledas an easel, Figs. 3'--'7 showing the means bywhicli thisoperation isperformed. After the tape" Zil has been cut dr r'emovedtheside fi'a'ps Hand l'2 andb'ottom' fiap [4 are swung away from the backing member Illto permit the hanger flap l5 and the sheets 16 to be swung away fromsaid backing member as illustrated in Fig. 3, and as shown in Fig. 4said hanger flap and sheets are swung through an angle of approximately180 degrees to present the display on said sheets from the side of thebacking member opposite the side from which the side flaps II and 12extend, said sheets resting-againsttheback of:the men'iber Ii! landbeing supportedby the'hanger'fiap and said member ID.

The sheets 16, hanger flap l5 and backing member ID are provided witha'hole shown at 2| in 'Figs. and-.7; land a rivet 22 is passed throughthis hole and acts to secure the sheets and hanger fiap'tdtheback'ingmember In as shown in Fig. 9. Since therivets ll, [8 and 22 areapproximately in a straight" line adjacent the upper edge of the hangerflap, as each sheet is used it may be merely turned over to the insideor back of the apparatus andthe next succeeding-sheetwillebe in 1display. positions After the hangerflaps and sheets havebeen invertedfrom: their closed positionstotheir dis; play position the bendableportion of each sidefiap-is bent inwardly, approximately. at. a, rightangle;- If desired this operation may be facilitated -by. the use 1 of astraight edge, 7 as thelrulerl. 2 3 shown in'Figa5; Push pins -25 and'ifi onotherf fastening devices, as rivets may then: be utilized, to:secure the'bottom fiap M0 the bendable p.01? tions- I la=and IZaofthesideflaps, this anrapge: ment-providing a sturdy support to hold. the;backing. member I 0. in an upright.- pos ition, v and. prcper-balance-isassured-since .the-backingvmema ber issupported: atan angle-tothevertical, slop ingarearwardly; as best seen-infiFig. '7, so that saidmember. cannot: fall 7 forwardlyi eventhough its.

supporting; meansgare located=to.the rear. The

' slope towards the rear is, of course,1 causedlby bending thetriangular portions. '13 andfrl i lilaway.

from the vertical supportingaportion..ofithe side".

I: prefer to provide rivet 2-2 and? pushlpins 2'53 and 26imamenvelopeinsidethe-carton :when its is shipped-and if :desired thisenvelope may 0011+,

tain directions for assemblingthe:apparatus.as-

an: easel-:-

Since it is not necessary to --cu-t -or. tear theianparatus inassembling; it-either. as a-car-ton .011 as rivet: 2 2; swinging the.hanger. flan: I 5 .and sheets:

i 6 through approximatelylw fideg rees where-theyre'st against the otherside:- of=sthe backing member.

iii, straighteningoutthe bendable-portions Ila. and l2a:andswingingathe.bottomgflapgl 4. and the. side flaps M- and. t2to:overlie the backing meme. b1". Gbviously the. apparatus may? be used;asinany times as desired=for displays orvlectures The formation ofthe-:bendable portions, Hu. and lia as illustra te'd resnlts'in: aneasel: in. which the backing member I' U issupported inaamuprightposition a: few degrees: from the: vertical; and

since-the. hingediccnnection?ofth'e side flaps re--- space between thefolds- I 3a; and: F311,;

open oreasel-forfnin'g position oi Figzfl'. Consenquen thesidefiapcannot-be seen'zby: ainro'b serv'er in front' of P tha display? Wliil'eI have shown andd scribedicertain: elm

bodi'inents of my-inven'tion it is to=undrstood that it is capable ofmany modifications; Changes; therefoie, mm the". constructionandiarposite side edges of said backing member, said.

flaps being contained within projections of the top and bottom'edges ofsaid backing member, and said flaps each having a lower edge portionwhich is readily bendable to form a base portion, said flaps forming aportion of a carton when swung to overlie said backing member, and saidflaps being adapted when swung away from said backing member to form asupport to maintain said backing member upright at an angle to thevertical.

2. Apparatus of the character claimed in claim 1, wherein the bendableportion of each side flap is in the form of a triangle having its baseextending from the lower corner of said side flap along the outer edgeof said flap opposite said hinge mounting, and having its apex at thelower corner of said side flap adjacent said backing member.

3. Apparatusof the character described, comprising: a backing memberadapted to support a plurality of display sheets; a pair of oppositelydisposed side flaps hingedly mounted along opposite side edges or" saidbacking member, said flaps each having a lower triangular edge portionwhich. is readily bendable to form a base portion, said flaps forming aportion of a carton when swung to overlie said backing member, and saidflaps being adapted when swung away from said backing member to form asupport to maintain said backing member upright at an angle to thevertical; a bottom flap hingedly mounted along the bottom edge of saidbacking member; and readily removable means for securing said bottomflap to said bendable portions to form said base portion.

4. Apparatus of the character described, comprising: a backing member; apair of oppositely disposed side flaps hingedly mounted along oppositeside edges of said backing member, said flaps each having a score linedefining a lower triangular portion which is bendable to form a baseportion, said flaps forming a portion of a carton when swung to overliesaid backing memher, and said flaps being adapted when swung away fromsaid backing member to form a sup port to maintain said backing memberupright at an angle to the vertical; a bottom flap hingedly mountedalong the bottom edge of said backing member; readily removable meansfor securing said bottom flap to said bendable portions to form saidbase portion; and a hanger flap hingedly mounted along the top edge ofsaid backing member, said hanger flap being adapted to have a pluralityof display sheets mounted thereon.

5. Apparatus of the character described, comprising: a backing member; apair of oppositely disposed side flaps having a length equal to thelength of the backing member and being hingedly mounted along oppositeside edges of said backing member and extending along substantially theentire length of said edges, said flaps each having a lower portionwhich is bendable to form a base portion, and said flaps being adaptedto form a support to maintain said backing member upri ht at an angle tothe vertical when said flaps are swung approximately 90 degrees fromsaid backing member; a bottom flap hingedly mounted along the bottomedge of said backing member and extending along substantially the entirelength of said bottom edge, said bottom flap being adapted to cover thelower portion of said side of said backing member when swung to overliesaid member and being adapted to be swung through an angle of less than90 degrees from said backing member and be secured to the bendableportion of said side flaps; and a hanger flap hingedly mounted along thetop edge of said backing member, said hanger flap being adapted to haveat least one display sheet mounted thereon, two oppositely disposedflaps having a combined width at least equal to the width oi saidbacking member and being adapted completely to cover a side of saidbacking member when said flaps are swung to overlie said backing member.

6. Apparatus of the character described, coprising: a backing member; apair of oppositely disposed side flaps hingedly mounted along oppositeside edges of said backing member and extending along substantially theentire length of said edges, said flaps each having a lower triangularportion which is bendable to form a base portion, said flaps forming aportion of a carton when swung to overlie said backing member, and saidflaps being adapted when swung away from said backing member to form asupport to main" tain said backing member upright at an angle to thevertical; a hanger flap hingedly mounted along the top edge of saidbacking member and extending along substantially the entire length ofsaid top edge, said hanger flap covering the upper portion of a side ofsaid backing member when in a first position; and a plurality of displaysheets mounted on said hanger flap adjacent the top edge of said backingmember, said hanger flap and sheets being adapted to be swung through anangle of approximately 180 degrees to a second position to present thedisplay on said sheets from the side of said backing member opposite theside from which said side flaps extend, said sheets being supported bysaid hanger flap and backing member when in said second position.

JOHN DICKINSON SCHNEIDER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,602,583 Lawrence Oct. 12, 19261,723,944 Marsh Aug. 6, 1929 2,395,122 l-Iorr Feb. 19, 19% 2,443,645Turan June 22, 1948

